Obedience

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. I Samuel 15:22

Have you ever heard someone say, "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission"? Not so, with the Lord. He wants us to do what He tells us, rather than disobeying and asking for forgiveness later.

All through the Bible, you will see instructions to obey the Lord, to obey His commandments, laws, precepts, etc. Even Jesus learned to obey.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8

When we were children, we thought becoming adults would allow us to be independent; we would be able to do anything we want, and wouldn't have to let anyone tell us what to do. Little did we know that, even as adults we would still have people to obey. It goes without saying that, regardless of age, we still have to obey God. Obeying Him involves obeying some humans too. Let's see who they are.

If you are a married lady, the first person you are supposed to obey is your husband. Look at Titus 2:3-5 in the banner at the top of this page. You can re-write your wedding vows if you like, to purposely leave out the word obey, but if you are a Christian you still have to do it.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:22-24


For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. I Peter 3:5-6

Think this is too hard? It's really not. It sounds quite difficult, but if you take the time to choose wisely when selecting a husband, and if you both love each other and love the Lord, it's not all that hard -- most of the time.

We also need to obey our pastor, when he is giving us direction from the Lord and instruction in how to serve the Lord more acceptably.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

If you are employed and wish to stay that way, you will definitely need to obey your boss. The Bible refers to the employer/employee relationship in the terms of master/servant.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Colossians 3:22

In other words, obey your boss, but not for the purpose of 'kissing up'. We obey because we're working for that boss as if we're working for the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23

We need to obey the laws of our land, and the people whose job it is to enforce them.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. I Peter 2:13-14

There are times when we're not required to be obedient. For instance, if your employer is telling you to do something illegal or immoral, you should definitely disobey. Anyone telling you to disobey one of God's laws should be disobeyed.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

Sometimes, people will take the scriptures out of context, and try to make you think you are required to obey them, even if you're not. I have been acquainted with men in the church who were of the opinion that all the ladies of the church were supposed to obey them, simply because they were men. Do you find any scripture in the Bible that says, "Women, obey men because they say so"? I don't.

I have to obey 1) God, 2) my husband, because God has made him my head, 3) my pastor, because he has to watch for my soul, 4) my boss, because I work for him as for the Lord, 5) the laws and those who enforce them, because I have to be an example to unbelievers, and often those laws are for my own protection.

Do you want to know what the best part is about following these plans that God has set out? When we do it, it works. Things go better and the Lord blesses our efforts.